Member Reviews
If you liked A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, you'll like this one as well. It's another YA mystery/thriller featuring young detective/high school student Pip. Despite saying she wasn't going to get involved in any more cases, she finds herself unable to say no when her friend's brother disappears. She - and his family - are convinced there is something more at play than just the brother going away for a bit.
Pip, with the help of Ravi from book one and Conner (her friend), do the same kind of antics that they do in the first book (dangerous and illegal) but get themselves deep in the mystery of what happened to Connor's brother, Jamie.
Again, this is requires a lot of suspended disbelief (the police really couldn't get involved at any point and instead relied on a teenage girl?) but it was a good mystery. I did suspect part of the ending, but nothing is ever what it seems and there was a big twist/clue that dropped at about 85% through the book, which made it hard to predict anything before that point because it was brand new information. I think this part was a little annoying because I do prefer being able to look back and say "oh I should have seen that" and it was impossible in this case.
Overall, this was a good YA mystery and again, if you liked the first one, you'll like this one too.
After having read the first book in this series, I was very interested to read more about Pip and her adventure. The pacing was as good as the first, and I enjoyed the return of her friend characters. I even appreciated that the love interest with Ravi didn't take over the second book, and she had a new sidekick with her for this mystery. It kept things fresh and moving.
If there is a third, I will probably read that one as well.
So I loved a Good Girls Guide to Murder, and I always get nervous with mystery/thriller follow up books but this was everything I hoped it would be and then some! The characters are wonderful and the plot is so carefully constructed with so many fast paced twists and turns. This is a solid YA book that I can think of so many people that would absolutely love it. If you like being stuck up until 4am reading, this is the book for you!
Good Girl, Bad Blood is the highly anticipated followup to the thrilling A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. The story takes place months after the fallout after the events that took place in the first story. The case following the conclusion of the investigation is taking place however Pippa has vowed to place her energy towards school and her new podcast rather than playing detective again as her life and those of her loved ones was placed in jeopardy during the first case. However things change when Pip is approached by one of her close friends whose brother has disappeared. While at first she is able to use some of her connections to try to gain some information to point her friend in the right direction, it quickly becomes evident that the police are not making this case a priority. Pip once again dives into the investigation with the help of her friends and this time she has her podcast to help chronicle her success or failure each step of the way.
Good Girl, Bad Blood was equally, if not more thrilling than the first in the series. The tone of the story is a bit darker which mainly stems from insight into Pip's personality and the growth that takes place for her over the course of the narrative. The mystery takes center stage once again and is carefully constructed and well paced to keep you reading into the night. The inclusion of maps, photos and other bits of evidence makes for a more immersive and overall enjoyable reading experience as readers are able to follow along closely as Pip uncovers and makes sense of the evidence. As with the first in the series, there are plenty of suspects and evidence to keep the narrative moving forward. Jackson cleverly weaves some important and thought provoking information pertaining to social media and the impact these platforms have in our lives that adds some extra depth to this suspenseful tale. I highly recommend Good Girl, Bad Blood as well as the first in the series, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder for thriller lovers looking for a suspenseful, gripping and surprisingly moving story.
I loved the first book in this series, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, when I read it last year so I was really looking forward to this sequel!
Pip was still dealing with the repercussions of events in AGGGtM, and her struggle with her investigation and what it turned up, and how people saw her afterwards, was a really interesting aspect of this story that made her feel more real to me.
And the mystery in this book was really well done! I had so much fun trying to untangle it, and as in AGGGtM, I thought the red herrings were credible, and author Holly Jackson stayed one step ahead of me and kept me guessing the whole time. Every time I had a suspicion or a guess, so did Pip, and it was fun to follow along on another investigation with her.
I really hope there will be another book in this series! I really like the way the book incorporates the podcast and interview transcripts and Pip’s notes. I could not put this down! Highly recommended!
Picking up several months after the end of <i>A Good Girl's Guide to Murder</i>, we find Pip working on a podcast about Andie & Sal's murders and the trial of Max Hastings. Though she has sponsorship offers for her podcast, she's turned them down and decided that her detective days are over. She doesn't want to be that person anymore. Then, one of her best friends, Connor, shows up on her doorstep begging for her help. His brother Jamie has gone missing and the police refuse to investigate. When Pip cannot convince Detective Hawkins to prioritize Jamie's case, she realizes that she's going to have to look into his disappearance on her own.
With lots of twists and turns (only some of which I saw coming, others were complete surprises!), this book is a wild ride that will keep you up at night turning pages. The plot was well-paced and convincing. Though this installment was a bit darker than the first one, I wouldn't classify it as dark. I enjoyed the interplay between Ravi and Pip and how they grow and change, and I enjoyed that we got to see a lot of the aftermath of the events in AGGGTM. Other than so many mysteries taking place in the small, fairly well-to-do town of Fairview, CT, this book was pretty believable. I highly recommend it if you're a fan of mysteries, YA, or fast-paced thrillers!
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This highly anticipated sequel did not disappoint!! I absolutely loved rejoining Pip, Ravi, and friends as a new mystery develops in their small town. I was guessing the entire way through and really appreciated the style switch up; incorporating interview transcripts and podcast episodes within the chapters. Really hoping there is a third installment in this series!!!
5 out of 5 stars!
Another mystery book that is a five-star for me. I think I'm starting to enjoy YA mystery. This book review was supposed to go up a week ago but with school and work, I lagged behind... but here is the awaited review!
This book was really good, I would say better than the first one. The first book pulled me into the world of Pip and Ravi and this one pulled me into the world even more and formed a connection with the characters. Every twist and turn of the story was there and all I wanted to do was devour the book and anticipate for the third one. This was a really good continuation to the first book and I want to learn more about Pip and her detective skills.
This is one of the few young adult mystery novels that I would enjoy. Holly Jackson is at the top of my favorite authors' list.
I would like to say thank you to NetGalley for giving me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.
Even though the first book didn't need sequel, I am so happy that this came out. After a memorial for those that died in the last book Pip is asked to look into a missing person. One of her friends brothers. He disappeared at the memorial and no one has seen him since. Pip promised her parents she was not going to return to her podcast, however after her friend begs her to help search for his brother, and Pip finds out the police are not going to do anything Pip gives in and starts her podcast back up and searched for Jason Reynolds.
I absolutely loved the first book, and love the sequel as well. I cannot wait to read the third one. I love the storytelling and Pip as a character. Her and Ravi are so sweet together.
Thank you to NetGalley, Holly Jackson, and her publishers for the Advanced Reader's Copy of this OUTSTANDING sequel!!! I'm going to say it: this one was better than the first. Yes, it was. I think it's because Pippa gets even better at being a teen crime stopper.
If I didn't have to work (ha, always gets in the way doesn't it?), I would have finished this one in a day, maybe day and a half.
I think I also liked it better because the murderer/killer is accessible enough to guess, though still took me by surprise. The only part I don't LOVE was the explanation at how everything was connected in the end. It felt a little far-fetched but, seriously, I've heard more far-fetchedness on the Crime Junkie podcast which is entirely made up of real true crimes so!
I recommend this one for students, too. I'd say 7th grade and above. Although it's about murder, I wouldn't say there's anything gruesome or too mature content in this one.
I hope Holly Jackson writes one more in this series!!
In May of 2020, I was given a copy of Holly Jackson's debut YA novel, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. Good Girl, Bad Blood is the sequel, and is just as engaging a story.
In the first book, we're introduced to Pippa, who's doing a senior capstone project on a local girl's disappearance, which leads to a podcast and a relationship with Ravi Singh. In Good Girl, Bad Blood, Pip has decided to no longer pursue her podcast, moving on with her life, admitting she got too obsessed with the Andie Bell case. But then her friend Connor comes to her and says his brother Jamie is missing, the police won't do anything because he's an adult and it's not his first disappearance, and can Pip please investigate for him and his mother, Joanna?
Pip is a good friend, and can't say no to Connor. She and Connor, with Ravi's assistance, start to put the timelines together of Jamie's disappearance, and as they do, begin to uncover clues to a complicated story involving not only some of the characters from the first book, but a complex catfishing scheme.
Jackson does whodunits very well, and this second installment of Pippa's investigative skills is just as engaging as the first - no sophomore slump, here. There is a third installment coming in the series, and I can't wait to see where Jackson takes Pippa next.
Pip is back with a missing persons case, and she's going to get to the bottom of it! This was excellently done. Good Girl, Bad Blood does not suffer from second book syndrome that lacks what the first book brought or is just set up for the third one. Without spoiling anything, all I can say is this book is a fun, twisty ride that leaves you reading long past your bedtime.
Following the dramatic events of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, Pip has sworn of sleuthing. That is, until a friend goes missing and his family turns to her when the police are less than helpful. At 23, Jamie is an adult and even though his recent behavior has been out of character, the police are not concerned. So, while keeping up with a trial associated with her last case and updating her podcast, Pip and Ravi dig into Jamie's disappearance. Season 2 of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder has a much larger audience, including towns people with secrets to protect.
This was a great second offering and I truly home Pip and Ravi will continue to have detective adventures. Pip is great sleuth-she's smart, observant, and not completely reckless. Fans of true crime and podcasts will enjoy this fictional case and the amateur sleuths who solve it.
An excellent sequel. We get to know established characters better, see the aftermath of the mystery of the first book, deal with some valid fears about fame, trolls, and public personas, and enjoy the solving of a brand new case.
I'll be honest, this wasn't my cup of tea. I've come to expect great things from this author, and this just wasn't it. It certainly wasn't a horrible read, it just wasn't up to Black's typical work expectations.
This book was a great sequel to the first one. It started withrecapping the events of the first book, re-introducing the people as a reminder which was great as there was a lot I had forgotten from the first book.
The story is completely different than the first one, Pip facing another case for her second podcast. Jackson is really successful at developing Pip and the other characters onwards. I love Pip and enjoy reading about her adventures. I thought this case was a highly entertaining gripping read with an increasing pace and tension.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for the ARC of Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson. I have read both books in the series so far, and in this case, I actually prefer book two--Good Girl, Bad Blood! I like the way Jackson incorporates various mediums in her story structure, whether it be through the podcast transcripts or even local headlines. The main character, Pip, is also growing by leaps and bounds. She is a total bad chick! It was a fun read, and I'll be happy to share it with my students.
I love this series. While it doesn't feel as British as the first novel in the series, it still gives off a strong British vibe, which works against the updated New England setting. I love the characters and I am all in with the mystery.
Exciting follow-up mystery sequel to AGGGTM! After the last investigation (and the corresponding podcast) and all the unintentional damage that occurred to Pip's family and herself, she swears there won't be a second season. But when her friend's brother goes missing, Pip breaks her own vow in order to help Jamie. She and Ravi get to work, digging into searching for clues in videos, photos, interviews, etc. all while the trial of Max Hastings is going on as well. How Pip manages to stay in school while investigating a crime AND producing a podcast is a whole OTHER mystery!! Overall, great mystery novel for teens with a fantastic format. Pip is an excellent, complicated female detective-she's a Nancy Drew for the 21st century!